With 3D printers rapidly becoming affordable, the potential is growing for anyone to access the technology. But while 3D printing is forecast to revolutionise the world, as is often the case with new gadgets, first of all we have to figure out what we are going to use if for.

And it's for this reason that the north west Australian town of Broome has taken ownership of its first 3D printer. The town's Community Resource Centre was granted the funds from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, to buy a $4,000 3D printer which can produce small plastic objects.

The coordinator of the centre freely admits that it's not about meeting a need, it's about creating a need.

"It's about people coming and having a look at the 3D printer, and seeing if it has any applications to their business or their life," Paul Przibilla told Vanessa Mills on ABC Kimberley Local Radio.

Micro-manufacturing

A 3D printer is a machine that can turn a computer file into a solid object. By building up layers of plastic, ceramic or even metal, a 3D printer uses a computer-aided design file to guide the process called additive manufacturing.

A lot of the buzz around 3D printing has focused on the potential to send objects to remote places on demand, such as the international space station or hospitals in developing nations. But rather than receiving designs from elsewhere, Mr Przibilla wants regional Australians to unleash their creative force.

"I was hoping that with the creativity of the Broome community and our remoteness, that it would start to bring some manufacturing back to the regions."

A 3D printer allows Australian ideas to lead directly to the manufacturing of a plastic object, bypassing the vastly more expensive process of mass production offshore.

"If you want to make a shipping-container-load of something, you're still going to go to China. But if you want to make a one-off, customised item, then this is the type of thing that you're going to use," said Mr Przibilla.

Whether it's a piece of art, a unique fitting for a boat, or perhaps a prototype for a unique design, the Broome Community Resource Centre wants to see where regional Australia will take 3D printing.